San Diego

TRACK BANDIT PREVIEWS

WELL ARMED (Tiznow) will defend his title in Sunday’s $250,000 San Diego H.
(G2), and the six-year-old gelding towers over eight rivals. The front runner
turned in a couple of top-class efforts over Del Mar’s Polytrack in 2008,
winning the San Diego by 1 1/4 lengths prior to a neck second in the Pacific
Classic (G1), and he’s exiting a career-best performance, a record-setting
14-length romp in the Dubai World Cup (UAE-G1) in late March. The Eoin Harty
runner shows a solid five-furlong drill over the track and will keep Aaron
Gryder in the irons. He’ll be on or close to the lead from the start.

INFORMED (Tiznow) sprang an upset at 14-1 in the Californian S. (G2) and the former
claimer ran well in three previous starts at Del Mar (3-1-2-0). The Doug O’Neill
runner is favorably drawn in post 2 and should sit a good stalking trip, just
off the front runners, from his inside post with Tyler Baze. He could be in
position to offer a challenge turning for home and looms as a logical candidate
for the bottom of the exacta.

SONG OF NAVARONE (Sultry Song) will cut back to a more favorable 1 1/16-mile
distance off a poor showing in the 10-furlong Hollywood Gold Cup (G1). The late
runner turned in a solid effort when fourth by a length in his synthetic debut
two starts back, the Californian, and he’ll make his first start for
Walther Solis while picking up the services of Joel Rosario. A winner in three
of his last six outings, the five-year-old owns respectable BRIS numbers and
looms as an upset contender here if the top choice falters. We’ll look for him
to offer some value in the exotics.

Grade 1 winner MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast) finished third in last year’s Pacific
Classic and appears to be headed in the right direction for Bobby Frankel.
The five-year-old went off form after leaving Del Mar, recording four straight
dull showings, but he finished an encouraging fourth while defending his title
in the Hollywood Gold Cup last time. The bay could show more speed here under
David Flores, and we won’t be surprised to see him hold for a minor award.

SANGAREE (Awesome Again) is making good progress for Bob Baffert, winning
three of his last four starts, and the four-year-old is two-for-three at the
distance. He’ll be tested for class in his stakes bow, but the improving colt is
one to consider for the bottom of the gimmicks.

TEMPLE CITY (Dynaformer) brings decent form into his stakes debut, but he
looks more formidable on turf right now and is too big of a question mark on
Polytrack for us to recommend his chances. KELLY LEAK (Runaway Groom) has been
freshened off a victory earlier this year in Sunland Derby, but we’ll just watch
to see how he handles older rivals.

MAGNUM (Arg) (El Compinche) owns plenty of back class, but the eight-year-old
doesn’t look good enough presently to make an impact here. ALLICANSAYIS WOW
(Street Cry [Ire]) will step up to face males off a turf allowance win at
Hollywood, and we’ll just watch to see how the Patrick Biancone filly fares.